The latest Bridget Jones film - Mad About the Boy hits cinemas later this week, and to mark the occasion, we’re taking a nostalgic trip back to where it all began—Bridget Jones’s Diary. But how does this beloved rom-com compare to another Hugh Grant classic, Notting Hill?

Which film has the stronger lead? Which is more deeply woven into British culture? Which delivers the better love story? And does more Hugh Grant automatically mean a better movie? We’re answering all these questions in the latest installment of our Versus series.

We’ll be putting these two rom-com staples head-to-head across five key categories: Story, Lead, Supporting Cast, Comedy, and Britishness. Each film will be scored out of 5 in each category, for a total of 15 possible points. In the end, only one can claim the crown—so let the battle begin!

FULL SPOILERS FOR BRIDGET JONES'S DIARY AND NOTTING HILL IN THIS EPISODE. You have been warned.

Agree with our scores? What would you score these films? We want to know!

Email us at thirdreelpod@gmail.com or through X/Twitter and Instagram @third_reel_pod

https://linktr.ee/thirdreelpod

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00:00 - Preamble

00:11:27 - Category 1: Story

01:00:02 - Category 2: Lead

01:19:27 - Category 3: Supporting Cast

01:46:03 - Category 4: Comedy

01:57:28 - Category 5: Britishness

02:10:00 - Final Scores

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“That’s my secret, Cap: I’m always angry”—especially when we play the Draft. Following our hit Emma Stone and Christmas editions, we’re diving back into the game that pushes The Third Reel’s competitive spirit (and friendships) to the limit—this time, it’s the Mark Ruffalo Draft.

If you’re familiar with fantasy football, you’ll know the drill. Each of us takes turns selecting movies from Mark Ruffalo’s entire filmography, filling out six distinct categories. Once a category is locked in, it’s final for that player, and that movie is off the board for everyone else. The draft order? Determined by the legendary “Wheel of Names.” And since we’re running a snake draft, everyone gets a fair shot at the best picks.

Last time, Daniel took the crown in the Emma Stone draft—can he defend his title, or will Rachael or Dale snatch it away? Only one way to find out: listen, vote, and let the best Ruffalo roster win!

The Categories:

🎭 Starring

🎭 Supporting

🎭 Drama

😂 Comedy

🟢 Marvel (MCU) 🏹

🎬 Free Pick

We’ll be posting our full picks on social media, where you can cast your votes to decide the ultimate Mark Ruffalo Draft champion. And to top it all off, we’ve got a fun, Ruffalo-themed bonus game for you to play along with—so stick around till the end!

Who won? We want to know!

Email us at thirdreelpod@gmail.com and vote through our Instagram poll or via X/Twitter @third_reel_pod

https://linktr.ee/thirdreelpod

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00:00 - Preamble

00:09:10 - Mark Ruffalo Biography

00:17:40 - Draft Rules

00:19:58 - The Draft

01:29:03 - Quiz

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From gothic genius to cinematic misfires, we're diving into Tim Burton's full directorial filmography in chronological order!

Join us at The Third Reel: A Movie Podcast as we rank 5 of his best films for the Hall of Fame and 5 of his worst for the Hall of Lame. Will your favourites make the cut, or will they end up in the shadows? It's a whimsical, spooky, and hilariously judgmental episode you won't want to miss! Agreeing on those 5 for each Hall? Well, disagreeing is all part of the fun...

Agree with our Hall of Fame? What about the Hall of Lame? Got a suggestion for our next Hall of Fame/Lame subject? We want to know!

Email us at thirdreelpod@gmail.com or through X/Twitter and Instagram @third_reel_pod

https://linktr.ee/thirdreelpod

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2011 was the year we started university, and it was also the year we met Rachael! One might say, it marked the unofficial birth of The Third Reel: A Movie Podcast... though it would take many more years before it truly came to life. As we look back on another sentimental year, we're diving into a Top 10 ranking of the best films from that time. Initially, we thought 2011 offered a rather modest selection of films, but as we dug deeper, we were pleasantly surprised by just how many hidden gems it held.

Here’s how it works: we each take turns counting down from #10 to #1. If two (or more) of us have the same film on our lists, we’ll hold off discussing it until it appears at its highest placement. That way, we can give it the spotlight it deserves. Once the lists are complete, we will rattle off our honourable mentions.

Let us know your 2011 rankings!

Email us at thirdreelpod@gmail.com or through X/Twitter or Instagram @third_reel_pod

https://linktr.ee/thirdreelpod

All music used in this podcast is for commentary and review purposes under fair use. We give full credit to the original composers and right holders, and acknowledge that we do not own any of the music featured.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00:00 - Preamble

00:14:28 - Rachael's #10

00:17:07 - Daniel's #10

00:19:48 - Dale's #10

00:20:22 - Rachael's #9

00:23:52 - Daniel's #9

00:28:35 - Dale's #9

00:28:55 - Rachael's #8

00:30:43 - Daniel's #8

00:30:52 - Dale's #8

00:35:15 - Rachael's #7

00:40:14 - Daniel's #7

00:45:11 - Dale's #7

00:45:40 - Rachael & Daniel's #6

00:51:02 - Dale's #6

00:55:11 - Rachael's #5

00:55:37 - Daniel's #5

00:55:52 - Dale's #5

00:55:57 - Rachael's #4

00:59:55 - Daniel's #4

01:00:12 - Dale's #4

01:03:29 - Rachael's #3

01:04:55 - Daniel's #3

01:05:12 - Dale's #3

01:11:29 - Rachael's #2

01:16:45 - Daniel's #2

01:22:41 - Dale's #2

01:27:55 - Rachael's #1

01:32:04 - Daniel & Dale's #1

01:39:25 - Honourable Mentions

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Welcome to Part 2 of our Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Review Series! In this episode, we’ll be finishing our review by covering Act 2 and Act 3, followed by our closing thoughts and scores.

As a reminder, we'll be breaking down the film act by act and scene by scene, scoring each film on a scale of 1 to 10.

FULL SPOILERS FOR HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE IN THIS EPISODE. You have been warned.

What's your score of Goblet? Do you agree with ours? We want to know! Email us at thirdreelpod@gmail.com or through X/Twitter or Instagram @third_reel_pod

https://linktr.ee/thirdreelpod

All music used in this podcast is for commentary and review purposes under fair use. We give full credit to the original composers and right holders, and acknowledge that we do not own any of the music featured.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00:00 - Review: Act 2

00:35:29 - Review: Act 3

01:21:50 - Final Thoughts and Scores

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This week on The Third Reel: A Movie Podcast, we’re diving back into our Review Series with Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire!

Like the previous installments—and likely those to come—we’ve split this review into two parts. In Part 1, we break down Act 1 of the film, while Part 2 (dropping bright and early tomorrow) will pick up with Act 2, wrap up with Act 3, and conclude with our final thoughts and scores.

We’ll be dissecting the film act by act, scene by scene, and scoring it on a scale of 1 to 10. With a new director at the helm, Goblet of Fire stands out as one of the most action-packed entries in the series. Frequently cited as a fan favorite for kicking off Harry Potter marathons, this movie has a special place in the hearts of many.

Join us as we share our thoughts, critiques, and where this installment ranks among the rest of the Wizarding World!

FULL SPOILERS FOR HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE IN THIS EPISODE. You have been warned.

If you have any things you want to discuss about this film or Harry Potter in general, email us at thirdreelpod@gmail.com or through X/Twitter or Instagram @third_reel_pod

https://linktr.ee/thirdreelpod

All music used in this podcast is for commentary and review purposes under fair use. We give full credit to the original composers and right holders, and acknowledge that we do not own any of the music featured.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00:00 - Preamble

00:08:33 - Review: Act 1

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Robert Eggers' Nosferatu has finally hit cinemas, and what a cinematic feast it is! To mark this monumental occasion, we're sinking our teeth into a Versus episode, pitting two iconic classics against each other: the original 1922 German Expressionist masterpiece, Nosferatu, and the film that launched the Universal Monster craze, 1931’s Dracula.

Both are adaptations of Bram Stoker’s legendary novel—one unofficial (Nosferatu) and the other the definitive authorised version (Dracula). We delve into the fascinating histories of these horror heavyweights before putting them head-to-head in five key categories: Cinematography, Vampire, Set Design & Location, Storytelling, and Legacy. Each film earns a score out of 5 in each category, for a maximum of 15 points. At the end, we’ll tally up the scores to see which film reigns supreme.

It’s Orlok vs. Dracula. Max Schreck vs. Bela Lugosi. Rat vs. Bat. Who comes out on top? Tune in and sink your fangs into this thrilling showdown to find out!

FULL SPOILERS FOR NOSFERATU AND DRACULA IN THIS EPISODE. You have been warned.

Agree with our scores? What would you score these films? We want to know!

Email us at thirdreelpod@gmail.com or through X/Twitter and Instagram @third_reel_pod

https://linktr.ee/thirdreelpod

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00:00 - Preamble

00:17:22 - Category 1: Cinematography

00:42:26 - Category 2: Vampire

01:01:55 - Category 3: Set Design & Location

01:20:55 - Category 4: Storytelling

01:46:54 - Category 5: Legacy

01:59:42 - Final Scores

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As 2024 draws to a close, The Third Reel: A Movie Podcast is gearing up for an exciting year ahead by diving into 2025's most anticipated films! Join us as we go month by month, sharing the movies that have us buzzing with excitement for what the next year has in store.

Since recording this episode, there have been release date changes, new trailers dropped, and fresh posters revealed—Hollywood moves fast! So, please bear with us and keep that in mind as you listen. But rest assured, our excitement for these upcoming films hasn’t wavered, and we can’t wait to see what they bring to the big screen.

What are your most anticipated films of the upcoming year? We want to know!

Email us at thirdreelpod@gmail.com or through X/Twitter or Instagram @third_reel_pod

https://linktr.ee/thirdreelpod

TIMESTAMPS

00:00:00 - Preamble

00:09:34 - 2025 Most Anticipated

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